Interim Acting Commissioner of Police Richard Ullger wants the BVI to consider introducing a penalty-points system as hefty fines have failed to stop repeated traffic violations.
Speaking on radio on 14 September, Ullger said RVIPF patrol and beat officers constantly issue fixed-penalty notices, but motorists continue to break traffic laws.
“I find it quite surreal that our patrol and beat officers are constantly issuing fixed-penalty notices to offenders, yet it keeps happening time and time again,” he said.
Ullger noted that some traffic offences attract fines of $750, which he described as steep compared with penalties in other territories.
Motorists who fail to pay their fines can eventually be arrested on a warrant and taken before the court. Ullger, however, said that process is lengthy and difficult.
“One of the things I would like to see is penalty points on people’s driver’s licences,” he said.
Ullger pointed to Gibraltar, where he said the introduction of penalty points immediately produced a significant reduction in traffic violations. Drivers who accumulate 12 points can lose their licences, usually for one year.
The programme’s host raised concerns that officers could abuse such a system by threatening motorists with points instead of exercising discretion and issuing verbal warnings.
Ullger said proper safeguards would be necessary, but officers must retain the ability to exercise judgement.
“Everything about policing is about accountability and governance,” he said. “But equally important is that we don’t remove the discretion of our police officers, because discretion is a very important tool for policing.”
Speaking on radio on 14 September, Ullger said RVIPF patrol and beat officers constantly issue fixed-penalty notices, but motorists continue to break traffic laws.
“I find it quite surreal that our patrol and beat officers are constantly issuing fixed-penalty notices to offenders, yet it keeps happening time and time again,” he said.
Ullger noted that some traffic offences attract fines of $750, which he described as steep compared with penalties in other territories.
Motorists who fail to pay their fines can eventually be arrested on a warrant and taken before the court. Ullger, however, said that process is lengthy and difficult.
“One of the things I would like to see is penalty points on people’s driver’s licences,” he said.
Ullger pointed to Gibraltar, where he said the introduction of penalty points immediately produced a significant reduction in traffic violations. Drivers who accumulate 12 points can lose their licences, usually for one year.
The programme’s host raised concerns that officers could abuse such a system by threatening motorists with points instead of exercising discretion and issuing verbal warnings.
Ullger said proper safeguards would be necessary, but officers must retain the ability to exercise judgement.
“Everything about policing is about accountability and governance,” he said. “But equally important is that we don’t remove the discretion of our police officers, because discretion is a very important tool for policing.”
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